Liquid vinylidene-terminated polymers

Abstract

Liquid vinylidene (CH 2 =C<) terminated polymers are prepared by the reaction of a (1) liquid polymer having a terminal functional group selected from the group consisting of carboxyl, hydroxyl, mercaptan, amine and epoxy and (2) a compound containing both an epoxy group ##STR1## and a vinylidene group. The reaction can be catalyzed using a base. The polymers cure readily to solid elastomers which are useful as sealants, caulks, potting compounds, coatings and the like. This is a division of application Ser. No. 292,926, filed Sept. 28, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,910,992.

I claim: 
     
       1. A liquid vinylidene-terminated polymer having a molecular weight of from about 1000 to about 20,000 of the structure ##STR18## wherein B is a polymeric backbone of carbon-carbon linkages derived from polymerized units of dienes containing 4 to about 8 carbon atoms interpolymerized with vinyl nitriles; Z is selected from the group consisting of --O--, --S--, --NH--, ##STR19## and --O--CH 2  --CH 2  --; and R is hydrogen or an alkyl radical containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       2. A polymer of claim 1 wherein B consists of polymerized units of butadiene and acrylonitrile monomers and Z is ##STR20## 
     
     
       3. A liquid vinylidene-terminated polymer of claim 1 vulcanized using a curative selected from the group consisting of dithiols, polythiols, primary and secondary amines, and primary and secondary polyamines. 
     
     
       4. A polymer of claim 2 wherein the polymer has a bulk viscosity at 27° C. of from about 5000 centipoises to about 2,000,000 centipoises. 
     
     
       5. A polymer of claim 4 wherein the structure R is hydrogen and the polymer has a bulk viscosity at 27° C. of from about 10,000 centipoises to about 400,000 centipoises.